Have you ever had a minor dent or serious collision that made it difficult for you to think clearly?? To handle this calmly, information is needed so that you have an idea of what to do if you are in a condition like this.
Following are several actions that must be taken after experiencing a car accident, quoted by Otodiva.com from aarp.org. Come on, let's see!
1. Determine if anyone is injured
Do not leave the scene of an accident, even a small one. Your first priority is safety everything else can wait, said Rob Luna, auto claims group manager at the American Automobile Association in Costa Mesa, California.
“Make sure everyone is OK and get medical help if you or anyone else needs it,” Luna said.
2. Keep yourself and your vehicle away from danger
If you are not injured and only had a minor accident, drive your car carefully to the side of the road so as not to obstruct traffic. Keep your hazard lights on and set up flares or reflective emergency triangles to warn other drivers to slow down. However, if the collision is more serious or if someone is injured, leave the vehicle where it is. Even if you don't feel hurt, be careful when getting out of your car, especially if the accident occurred on a busy highway or highway. You may not think logically, which can put you in danger.
3. Call the police
Although it is important to report the accident, in some areas police may not respond to minor collisions, Luna said.
“Some police departments are turning to online reporting versus dedicating resources to crash scenes,” he said.
If the police arrive, Note the officer's name and contact information. Be sure to get a copy of the accident report from the officer. If the police don't come, You can request a copy of the report from a law enforcement office, or through the insurance adjuster who handles your claim.
4. Gather important information
Use your phone camera to take pictures of documents or with pen and paper, get name, address, phone number, and the driver's license numbers of everyone involved in the accident. If the driver's name does not match the STNK or car insurance letter, determine the person's relationship to the vehicle owner.
Then, Collect all vehicle information including year, brand and model, color, license plate number and vehicle identification number. Get the insurance policy number and company telephone number, if someone else does not report the accident, saran moon. See if any witnesses are willing to give you contact information and details about what they saw. Never share your Social Security number, coverage limits on your insurance policy or other personal information.
5. Document it
Record as much detail as possible about the accident using the camera feature, video, and your smartphone's voice memos, saran moon.
“Check the impact on the car. Is it on the front side, driver's side, back? It's easiest to do this by taking photos of the entire car and close-up photos of damage to your car and the other party's. ”
Note the date and time of the accident, and photograph or video the entire accident scene, including skid marks or property damage. Note the name of the road and the direction each vehicle was heading before and after the accident.
“One thing that is often overlooked is the position of the car relative to the road. This is important information, because it helps the adjuster recreate the accident when you report the claim,” Luna said. Sketch a diagram of the accident scene. By using the voice memo app on your phone, determine what happened while the details are still fresh in your mind. Include information about weather and visibility.
6. Avoid discussions on the sidelines
A few years ago, Aged Denise Schipani 54 year and his son were stopped at a traffic light near his home in Huntington Station, New York, when a car hit their car from behind.
“We lurched forward and I braked hard, stopped just as I touched the bumper of the car in front of me,” he said. "At the time, I don't know what happened, and I remember being confused because there were little pieces of black stuff all over the back seat. It turned out the rear window was broken. We are shaking, but no one was hurt.”
Schipani turned on the hazard lights, double checked that his son was okay and called 911.
“Then I approached another driver. He tried to blame the wet leaves on the road, but there is none,” he said. “Clear, it was a case of him accelerating while distracted.”
Schipani rightly chose not to debate. Emotions can run high after a car accident, so if you believe the other driver is distracted or aggressive, trust your instincts, saran moon. “Stay in your car and do not interact with the person, as police intervention may be necessary,” he said.
7. Call a tow truck if necessary
Depends on how much damage your car suffered, may need to be towed to a collision repair center, Luna said. Many people have motorcycle club memberships and roadside assistance is one of the benefits. Police can contact tow truck companies and some auto manufacturers also offer driver assistance programs.
8. Contact your insurance company
Although it may be tempting to negotiate a cash deal to avoid an insurance claim, Notifying your insurance company after an accident can make you liable for damages resulting from the accident.
Schipani's insurance agent said the car was a total loss. The potential repair costs exceed the value of the car. Then, he learned that the driver who hit him had very low insurance coverage.
“They said it was possible to try to take money from him, but it would be better for them to handle the claim,” he said. “My advice is to never leave the scene, even for small fender bender, especially if it wasn't your fault.”
In cases like Schipani, Your insurance claims expert can help you navigate your options.
“If someone else's insurance isn't enough to cover your damage, Your insurance professional can check with the police for any coverage that might address that,” Luna said. For example, if your insurance company deems you innocent, it may have a liability waiver so you don't pay your deductible.
9. Handle Online
Many insurance companies now offer virtual tools such as mobile apps to allow you to start the claims process online. Check your proof of insurance card for instructions or call the toll-free number. Your insurance company will ask for a lot of information about the accident and may even ask you to use a remote inspection tool via your smartphone.
In addition to documenting the details of the accident, some insurance companies can send a tow truck, arrange a rental car, or provide other roadside assistance via the app.
Stay in touch with your insurance company after reporting an accident and keep all your accident-related documents organized as you work with your adjuster to process your claim, Luna said.
10. See a doctor
You may feel fine after the accident, but some injuries only become visible after a day or two. You can suffer a serious head or spinal injury from a minor impact, so see a doctor if you experience pain or unusual symptoms.
Accident injuries are usually included in your car insurance claim, so it's important to document any physical damage stemming from the accident.
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